Union Government expressed condolences yesterday for the deaths of scores of passengers after a ferry capsized in the Chindwin River, promising to carry out a probe into the deadly accident.
“A systematic investigation will be made into the accident to find the causes and take action against those who are responsible for this tragedy,” said the announcement of the government signed by President U Htin Kyaw.
The Sagaing Region government announced that it would hold a press conference on the ferry tragedy at Myathala Hall of the GAD at noon on 22 October.
The regional government has formed a fact finding mission led by Sagaing Region Police Chief Pol-Col Lu Lu Than.
The Union Government expressed its sympathy and pledged its assistance to the bereaved families. The incident occurred on 15th October in the Chindwin River in upper Myanmar.
A total of 68 passengers, including 14 men and 54 women, were confirmed dead as of 1 pm yesterday, according to authorities.
One-hundred and fifty-nine passengers survived the accident, and 80 people are still missing. The ferry was said to be carrying about 300 passengers when it capsized, according to survivors.
According to a preliminary enquiry, the Aung Soe Moe Kyaw-2 ferry left Homalin at 10.30 am on 14 October and landed in Phaungpyin, Mawlike, Kalewa and Minkin before it capsized near Kanni after apparently hitting a rock on its way to Monywa.
Crew members had reportedly been warned about its overloading, according to survivors.
Search operations are still ongoing in the downstream area of the Chindwin River.
Authorities have properly recorded the retrieved bodies and provided information to relatives. Some unclaimed bodies had to be buried after recording their information.
The sunken ferry was salvaged from the river yesterday.—Myanmar News Agency
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Union Government promises probe, accountability into deadly ferry incident
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